Transcript
Card Reader/Writers on new Public PCs
New public Internet computers installed in the library have a media bay, a component with the capability to accept data from a variety of different memory cards. There are multiple slots in the media bay, including one for USB drives. The new computers also have FireWire slots at the bottom of the PC tower. The media bay is installed in the CPU tower, under the DVD drive. It is labeled Card Reader/Writer. The figure below shows the basic layout of the media bay as it would appear before installation.
Media Bay Slots
What Is Flash Memory A memory card or flash memory card is a solid-state electronic flash memory data storage device used with digital cameras, handheld and Mobile computers, telephones, music players, video game consoles, and other electronics. They offer high re-record-ability, power-free storage, small form factor, and rugged environmental specifications. There are also non-solid-state memory cards that do not use flash memory, and there are different types of flash memory. A brief description of memory devices accepted in the Card Reader/Writers follows.
A Brief Description Of Memory Devices
USB flash drive A flash memory data storage device integrated with a USB (universal serial bus) interface, USB flash drives are typically removable and rewritable, and much smaller than a floppy disk. USB flash drives offer potential advantages over other portable storage devices, particularly the floppy disk. They have a more compact shape, operate faster, hold much more data, have a more durable design, and operate more reliably due to their lack of moving parts. Additionally, it has become increasingly common for computers to be sold without floppy disk drives. These
USB SD (Secure Digital Card) Initially created to hold ad prevent duplication of copyright music files, these cards have grown immensely popular with photographers due to their low power consumption and small size. There are now a few types of SD cards, offering transfer rates of varying degrees, that are slowly pushing CompactFlash cards (too bulky for many new cameras on the market) out of the camera accessory business.
SD
MicroSD A format for removable flash memory cards, the SD stands for Secure Digital. It is commonly used in cellular phones, but also in handheld GPS devices, portable media players, digital audio players, expandable USB flash memory drives, and for Nintendo DS flashcards, along with digital cameras.
MicroSD
MMC (MultiMediaCard) These cards are identical to the SD cards on the outside but work differently on the inside. They were interchangeable in some devices but not most and the SD tends to be favored for its fast speed in comparison to the lagging MMC.
MMC
RS-MMC (reduced size MMC) MMCs also come in a smaller form factor, of about half the size: 24 mm × 18 mm × 1.4 mm. This alternate form factor is known as Reduced-Size MultiMediaCard, or RS-MMC, and was introduced in 2004.
RS-MMC
CF (CompactFlash) About the size of a matchbook, CompactFlash cards were one of the first to become standard in the digital camera market, ranging from 8MB to 8GB capacity. CF Cards are currently used in numerous digital cameras, PDAs, HPCs, personal communicators, pagers and audio recorders.
CF
MD (Microdrive) The Microdrive is a miniature, 1-inch hard disk (non-solid-state memory.)
MD SMC (Smart Media Card) This memory only card (no controller onboard but required on the device to be used) is used with digital devices pre-2001 and max out at 128MB. Not being so convenient to the advancement of technology, these cards are still available but taking a back seat to all the others out there, especially the xD-Picture cards (see below).
SMC
XD (xD Picture Card) The "new kid on the block" was developed jointly by Olympus and Fuji to replace the close to extinct SM Cards (previously favored by both companies). About the size of a postage stamp, this tiny giant can hold up to 8GB of data, knocking the wimpy 128MB max SM card out of the ballpark. As this card is fairly new, adapters are available to assist in using with your device/computer.
XD MS (Memory Stick) Sony developed the Memory Stick in 1999 to create brand loyalty for their digital cameras and camcorders. Sometimes they are included with the camera or device in question. Most Sony notebooks do include a Memory Stick reader so users can remain within the spectrum of the brand and know their products will work with each other without fail.
MS
MS PRO (Memory Stick PRO) The PRO card was developed to provide even more capacity than MS (upto 4GB in comparison to the 128MB MS) and greater transfer speed.
MS PRO MS DUO (Memory Stick DUO) The DUO is exactly the same as the MS only half the size. Sony developed some products to utilize the compact card but an adapter is required for media readers to access the data.
MS DUO MS PRO DUO (Memory Stick PRO DUO) The PRO DUO is essentially the combination of the Memory Stick cards, being a perfect combination of compact size, high speed transfer rates and great capacity.
MS PRO DUO
USB port icon
Information compiled from sources: CompUSA, Wikipedia May 26, 2009 jbm
Firewire port icon
